Chain-track supporn



-E. E. WICKERSHAM. CHAIN TRACK SUPFORT. FILED Nov 27, 1918.

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Patented dan. lili,

FORNIA.

.Application filed November T0 olli/17mm t may concern:

Be it known that l, Emme E., llfroimr.- snai/ry a citizen ol the UnitedStates. residing at Stockton. in the county of San Joaquin and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful improvements in (haineTrackSupports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a construction of a chain track tractor andparticularly pertains to a chain support therefor. operation of tractorshaving chain tread tracks. there often occurs excessive vihration of theupper run of track chain and it is also common for the upper run oftrack chains to hang` slack under certain conflitions ot deflection ofthe truck mechanism,

It is the principal object of this invention to provide ay chain supportfor the abovementioned portion of the track chain, which will act'toyieldahly maintain it in a proper relation to the driving sprocketl andidler Wheel over which it passes.r at the saine time insuring that allinequalities inits tension will be compensated for'by the support-ingmechanism as the truck moves in relation to the main 'frame of thetractor.

The present invention essentially. cornprises an arm pivotally supportedfrom the rear end ot av load supporting truck of a tractor and yieldablysupported from the front end' of said truck. this arm loing, pro- `Iidedwith a. series ofiidler rollers upon which the upper run ot 'chain trackis adapted to rest.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which` Figl is a View in side elevation. illustrating the track truck equippedWith the support-ingr means with which the present invention isconcerned.

Fig@ is a view in transverse section. as seen on line 2-2 of Fig. pl.disclosing one inanner of connecting' the tractor main fraaie to thetrucks disposed at the opposite sides thereof.

Fig. 3 is a View in section and elevation, as se'en on line 01: Fig. l.illustratinr a yieldalole supporting nieans provided to carry the maintrarne as itlrests upon the truck units.

ln the drawings, 10 indicates a main frame, at the rear end of whichiscarried a driving axle 1l, provided With a suitable power transmissionmechanism notshown in In thell an; i ha mi .assrenoza ro a. coni-en 1;;

CHAIN-TRACK the` drawings. Thi" axle ing` sprockets l2, around latetrack inernber lil. p the lower runv of this .f load supporting rollersil.

relation to each othe. hy heari hearings are lined to the und truckframe 16. The rear end terminates directly in liront lz? While the foi deur! the main :traine and fort portion ad4 i te v l l?. i s rsh axleupon sliding he held upon the truck bolt 19 connectin lined upon thetruck frame. is commonly construct i and the idler wheels 1T ai track,tread 13. .ln the p ernhiac lli i esent instance ne truck iframes 16free *o iioat at the opposite sidesofV the ina a l nected with i; e axled rods 2l. These rods pivotn i, the axle 1l at their rear en forwardlyto he engaged hy QQ carried by bearings at" 45"" the trucks. Formed as apa; ings is the seat L8, upon which are mounted cushion springs 292.rlhese springs are adapted to receive the outwardly projecting ends of across heain 25 and 'to thus cushion the movement of the main frame inrelation to the truck frames, as more particularly shown in Fig. 3.rllhe forward. ends of tho truck frame are connected oy means'of a leafspring 2G which is centrally secured to a transverse beam 27 'of themain frame by means or a pivoted spring hanger 28. This hanger ispivoted to the main frame to allow vertical swinging movement of thesprings around the longitudinal axis of the frame. The outer ends of thesprings 2G are formed with eyes through which bolts 2.() extend. Thesebolts also pass 'through standards 30, fixed to the upper surface' ofthe truck frames 145. lt will thus he readily understood that the truckunits may ha ve any desired vertical movement in relation to the maintraine.. as limited by the actii'on ol the thrust rods 2l. lt will alsohe apparent that as thetruck ilranesl are raised in relation. to themain traine, the track chain will le caused to `becorne slack alor o irsupper '1 f F or supporting this portion of;

i Si Chaim afis'eries'r'of idler roll-ers 31 are provided and thes'e-.rollers are preferably flanged and are ;carried'.upon verticallyswinging rails 32.#` As shown in the drawings, three sets of theserollers'are/mounted for vrotatablemovement, along 'the rai'l's 32.The'rearfendsof the rails 32 are provided with pivot'pins 33 carried bystandards 34.

- These standards are bolted Adirectlyto the dicula'rly therefrom. Dueto this construcporting spring 35 interposed beneath the truck l framemembers 16 and extend perpention, the rails32-may swing verticallybeneath the chain, vas effected in one instance by the weight'ofthechain thereon and in the other instance by the expansion of a.supforward ends of the rails 32 and the block 20 on the truck fra-mes.

In operation Vof 'the present device, the truck frames may vibratevertically and as the load supporting rollers 14@ vdo rise, the lengthof chain required'along the lower run of the track would ybe shortened.p This length must, ofzcourse, be transferred to the upper run of trackand will be supported by the rolle-rs 31. Under ordinary 'circumstancesthe simultaneous upward movement and that excessive vibration and wearwill.

thus be eliminated as Well as the noise incident to the e objectionableconditions.

Having t `ius described my invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patents- 1. In a vehicle, a main frame, aself-layl v ing;ytrack mechanism therefor including a driving and carryingr wheel for thetrack, a load bearing truck within the track pivota-lly connected Itothe main frame for rocking movement in a vertical plane independently ofsaid main frame, and a support for the upper run of the track comprisinga rail pivotally connected at its rear end to the frame of the loadbearing truck, and yieldable. means supporting the forward end of therail upon the truck fra-Ine, and a plurallty of rollers carried by saidrail for engagmg and supporting the upper run of the track.

2. In a vehicle, a'main frame, a self-layingJ 60 track mechanismtherefor, including a driving and a carrying wheel for the chain track,and a load-bearing truck mechanism within the track pivotally connectedto the main frame for rockingr moigement in a vertical planeindependently of said main frame, and a support for the upper run of thetrack comprising a rail, a pivotal connection between the rear end ofthe rail .and

the frame of the load bearing truck such that the rail may oscillate ina vertical pla-ne7 idler rollers'carried by said rail and engaging theupper run of the track, and an eX- tensible coil spring supporting theforward end of the rail and resting upon the truck frame.

3. In a vehicle, a main frame, a self-laying track mechanlsm at eachside thereof 1ncluding a drivin and carrying wheel, and

an endless track t ereon, and a load bearing truck mechanism Within thetrack pivotally'l connected to the main frame for vertical rockingmovement independently thereof, a standard on the rear end of the truckframe,

a girder pivotally connected to the standard.

spring means mounted on the forward end of the truck frame and exertingan upward pressure'on the forward end of the girder, and a plurality of;rollers journaled on the girder and engaging the upper run of the track.

In testimony whereof I have here-unto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

' ELMER E.

Witnesses 'JOHN H. HEmuNc, W. lV. HEALEY,

VVICKERSHELM.

